Rotary card filing apparatus



Ma'wh 18, 1952' L. W. BELEW ROTARY CARD FILING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1948 IIIIHIIHHI...

March 18, 1952 L. w. BELEW 2,589,598

ROTARY CARD FILING APPARATUS Filed June 9, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 18, 1952 l.. W. BELEW ROTARY CARD FILING APPARATUS' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 9v, 1948 Ahn/Inn Emma W.` B15/.Lew

Patented Mar. 18, 1952 UNITED sTATEs jrn'rialv T Leland W. Belew, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to Herring-Hall-Marvin Safe Company, Hamilton, Ohio, a corporation of Florida Application June 9, 1948, Serial No. 31,873

The present invention relates generally to card iiling apparatus and more particularly to improvements in card filing apparatus of the type in which conventional file cards are carried generally radiallyv in a series of segmental pockets in a peripheral channel of a rotary drum.

Filingapparatus of the type to which the present Yimprovements relate, generally `comprise an enclosed supporting" structure in which Vcards with arcuate relatively stationary retaining strips which also serve, with the partition means, as a friction brake for the drum.

The pivot limiting means `for the partition members comprise a pin carried by each partition member and movable in and engageable with the ends of an arcuate slot in the side wall of the channel concentric with the laxis of pivot of the partition. It has beenfound, however. that when the drum is rotated and the partition members move by gravity to their pivotal limits,

` considerable noise is developed by the pins strik- .ing the ends of the slot. In addition, continued use of the iile occasions wear in the pivots of the partition members which also causes operating noise as such `wear increases. These operating noises have been found very obiectionable.

One of the obiects of this invention, therefore, is the provision of resilient buffer means incorporated with lthe partition limit pins to yieldingly retard the pivotal movement at the Alirru'ts thereof and reduce the above mentioned noise.

Another obiectof this invention is the provision oi` `resilient compression means oppositely exerting a yielding force against the opposed pairs of partition members forming the segmental ypockets along their pivotal axis to retain the partition members on their respectivepivot'pins and also to reduce noise occasioned by wear of the pivots of the partition members.

Another obiect of the invention is to provide a card ling apparatus of the described type in which the drum is motor driven and which providesa'novel means for controlling the opera- 8 Claims.

" circumferences.

tion and direction of rotation of the motor', such control means including a nger'engaging element which is moved in the desired directionof rotation of the drum to effect a corresponding rotation ofthe drum. "f A- further object of the invention-fiato pr'ovide a card file of the described type'inwhioh the card retaining'strip's or 'bandsare-.concent'ric with the drum from positiosadjaoent: the descending sectors of 'the drum beforetheupper faces of the partitions"assume'hoizontal" positions and from such positions upwardly'the bands diverge slightly outwardly from" the drum With the aboveand other importanto'bject and advantages in View, which will become more apparent during the course of the following desoription, the invention consists in the 'parts `and combinations hereinafter set forth with the-'understanding 'that Various changes' may" be made therein, such as in the shape, size and arrangements of the parts, or in the substitution-*of equivalents'by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, wherein preferred means for' carrying the invention into practical effect are shown:

Figure 1 is la View in perspective of f the card filing. apparatus according to this invention with I the closure for the case in'closed position;

Figure 2 is a View si'milar to Figure lwith the closure shown in open position; l

Figure 3 is a view inside elevation of the ling apparatus with the case being shown in transverse section; v

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5 5 oi Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional'view taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 4;v Y

Figure 7 is a fragmental cross sectional view taken along the line 1 1 of Figure 6;'

Figure 8 is a View in perspective of a portion'of the card carrying drum showing one of the buffer springs and its associated partition member Figure 9 is a view in elevation of the motor control switch arrangement; 'Y Y Figure 10 is a cross sectional view takenfalong the line M of Figure 9;

Figure 1l is a schematic wiring a motor control circuit;- and l i Figure l2 isa detailed view'partially in-section of the vlocking arrangement for the caseww. As seen V'in thedrawings, fthecardflleLcom.-

diagram. Vof

mediate stringers 5 by angles 8. The lower portion of the side frames are braced by angularly disposed truss members 9 and the tcp stringers 6 each carry a channel member IB, which may be called a molding trim, the upper face II of which is exposed as seen in Figure 2.

Centrally mounted respectively on the intermediate stringers 5 are a pair of axially aligned bearings I2 which rotatably journal a horizontal shaft I3 to which is rigidly secured a card carrylingidrumindicated generally as I4.

The drum IIII comprises a pair of axially spaced A...circular .disks I5 Vto the inner face of each of ywhich is secured `a small eccentric disk I6 having a peripheral, inturned ange I1. Each of --these Ldiskr assemblies may be reinforced by a channelpiece I8 secured tothe inner face of the disks :I6 vand extending diametrically thereacross aslseen in 'Figures and 6. A cylinder I9 spaces :andcconnects .the fdisks I5 byattachment at its opposite ends with the flanges I7. The cylinder `Ili'formswith the radially extended .or flange portions ofthe disks I5, a peripheral channel 2i! for the reception of iile cards. It may be pointed out that the .width of the cylinder and its diam-v eter. with `respect to thatof the disks I5, are calculated-with respect to the size of the card to be `used in the -le so that the cards will easily t between the sidewalls of the channel 2B and, Vinv -radial position, their lower and upper edges will coincide respectively with the bottom wall and upper periphery.

The card file of the type shown is adapted to hold approximately 5,000 le cards and to permit ease handling and for other reasons, the cards are preferably divided into a number of groups or stacks between 400 and 500 each. To this end, Athe channel 20 is divided into a circumferential of twelve segmental pockets 20a by means-of opposed pairs of wedge shaped partition members 2l of a width sufficient to engage opposite ends of the cards. The partition members 2l as best seen in Figure 7 are each provided with a hub portion 22 at its apex and by means of which the opposed pairs of partitions are mounted for pivotal movement respectively on axially aligned pins 23 respectively secured .to-the disks I5 adjacent the cylinder I9 and projected into the channel 2li. It will be noted that the pins 23 are provided each with a blockin g flange 24 adjacent the disk I5 toV provide a thrust shoulder against which the hub 22 gears Aspacing the` outer face of the partition member slightly from the inner -wall of the channel 2li.

-The pins 23 extend through and slightly beyond the inner end of the hubs 22.

lRe'siliently urging opposed partition members of each pair apart and into engagement with the pin flanges 24, maintaining them on their respecvtive pins and also compensating for wear in the cf the tubes 21 lt on the projecting ends of the pins. Between the inner ends of the tubes 21 and surrounding the rod 26 is a relatively light compression spring 28 which urges the tubes apart and into engagement with the inner faces of the opposed hubs 22 urging them into engagement with the pin anges 24.

Restricting pivotal movement of the partitions 2| to desirable limits, i. e., a maximum which will permit suicient farming of a stack of cards `in a pocket for ready inspection of individual cards, and a minimum which will position the cards of the stack substantially radially of the drum, is a headed pin 29 secured to the partition member and extending from its outer face through an arcuate slot 3!) in the disk I5 radially outward from and concentric with the pin 23.

Secured to the outer faces of the disks I5 adiacent each of the slots 30 is a U-shaped buffer member 3|, made of spring metal, and with its free ends or leaves 32 lying respectively adjacent opposite ends of the slots 39 so that the head 33 of the pin 29 riding therein will engage the free end of the buffer member and yieldingly retard movement of the partition member before the pin 29 strikes the ends of the slot 3Q. While other 35 secured respectively to the inner faces of the VAside frames 2, as best seen in Figure 3. The strips Se extend around and overlievthe peripheries of the disks I5 except for a gap 36 at the top of the ydr-um of a lengthV slightly in access of the maximum peripheral length of one of the card receiving pockets. Asbest seen in Figure 6 the strips 35, from a point Vadjacent the periphery of the drum just prior to that at which the partitions 2l assume a'horizontal position on the descending arc of the drinn and around to a similar point on the opposite side ofthe-drum, the intermediate length 31 of the strips 34 are concentric with the drum and lie closely adjacent the peripheries of the disks i5. From these points upwardly to `their ends, which lie adjacent the upper ends of the molding strips it, the strips diverge outwardly slightly from the peripheries of the disks i5 as indicated at 33. These diverging ends 38 serve to force any displaced cards to the bottom .of the pockets and evenly-stack them as the drum is rotated. Moreover, this evening is accomfpl-ished prior to the point where the stacks assume a horizontal'position and the weight of the stack would Yinhibit movement of the displaced cards and increase the tendency of turning the corners of the cards. After the cards have passed the horizontal on the descending arc of the drum they fall outwardly and their opposite corners engage the strips 3e and serve thereby to frictionally break the drum and restrain overriding thereof.

The pockets in the channel 2i) are properly packed with cards to substantially but loosely fill the bottom of the pockets. At the top of the drum therefore, where the vpartitions defining a pocket may be spread apart, as shown in Figure 6, the stack of cards may be fanned suiiiciently to inspect the entire -face of any card. At the bottcm of the drum, however, the weight ofthe cards Lin thelower quadrants hold the cards in the '.'bottom pocket or pockets substantially tightly stacked inhibiting relative angular movement in the pockets and serve, by engagement with the adacent partition members and the strips 34, to `effectively break the drum. For rotating the drum to bring a desired pocket 'to access position at the top of the le, there is v'provided an electric motor 39 which is coupled ,througha speed reducing transmission unit 40 with a sprocket 4| and thence through a chain 42 with a sprocket 43 secured to the drum shaft I3.. As shown diametrically in Figure 10, the motor 39 may be of a four wire, reversing type wired for rotation in a forward direction with its number 1 terminal connected with the one side -of a power line 44 through a lead 45, and its number 2 terminal connected with the lead 45 through a normally open switch 46. The number 4 terv'minal of the motor is connected with the opposite side of the power line through a lead 41, while the number 3 terminal is connected with the lead 41 through a lead 48 in which are normally closed contacts 49 of a relay 50. The relay 56 'is also provided with two sets of normally open 'contacts 5I and 52 and is energized to open the Vnormally closed contacts 49 and close the normally open contacts 5| and 52 by its winding 53 'which is connected across the leads 45 and 41 through a normally open switch 54. The motor is wired for reversing by connecting the number '3 terminal with the lead 45 through a lead 55 and -the normally open contacts 5| of the relay 50, and the number 2 terminal with the lead 41 through a lead 56 and the normally'open contacts 52 of the relay.

As seen in Figures 3, 5, 9 and 10, the switches 45 and 54 are' mounted end to end on the web of one of the channeled molding trims I0. The

switches 46 and 54 are provided respectively with' operators nger. The switches 46 and 54 are (50 arranged below the actuator so that the motor will be operated in the direction of movement of the actuator.

It will be seen therefore thatwhen the actuator 59 is rotated in a direction to close the switch 46 the number l and number 2 terminals of the motor will be connected with the one side of the power line 44, and the number 3 and number 4 terminals will be connected with the return side,

and the motor will be operated in a forwardly direction. When the actuator is rotated in the opposite direction to close the switch 54 the relay 56 will be energized and the connections to the number 2 and number 3 motor terminals will be reversed, the number 1 and number 3 terminals being connected with the lead 45 and the number 2 and number 4 terminals connected with the lead 41.

It is obvious that a foot switch or other reversing means could be provided for controlling ther motor 39 but the above arrangement, which requires the use of the operators hand, precludes the possibility of his hand in the path of movement of cards when the drum is rotated and reduces the possibility of injury.

'weight 15. weight assembly is distributed on opposite sides 4 Enclosing the drum and its support frame is a case 66 composed of parallel side walls 6I and end walls 62. The bottom of the case is open to slip over the frame and its lower half is rectangular and has cross sectional dimensions to snugly fit over the lower portion of the frame I while the upper half is semi-circular and concentric with the drum when the case is in position on the frame. The case is provided with a top access opening 63, rectangular in shape with a length somewhat in excess of the maximum length of a card receiving pocket and a width substantially that of the frame. As seen in Figure 2 the upper edges of the side walls 6I are flat andl inturned and lie substantially fiush with the upper flanges of the molding trims I0 so that the upper sector of the drum projects through the opening 63. The case is'supported on the frame by means of a pair of opposed angles 64 which rest on the angles 8 of the frame, as best seen in Figure 6, and the case is secured to the frame by only f our screws which pass through the end walls 62 into the bottom angles 1 of the frame.

rhe access opening 63 is adapted to be closed when the file is not in use by a closure indicated generally as 65 and which disappears inside of the mental, depending side portions 68 which lie outside of the frame I and are pivotally journalled by bearings 69 on opposite ends of the drum shaft a I3. The door 61 is concentric with the drum and lies inside of the case with its opposite ends overlapping the corresponding ends of the openings 63 when the door is in closed position.

One end of the door 61 is provided with a key operated lock 16 having a plunger 1| which, when actuated by a key in closed position of the door enters an aperture 12 in the molding trim I0, as best shown in Figure 12, to lock the door in closed position. It will be seen in Figures 3 and 12 that the lock 16 is provided with a lateral extension or hook 13 which, in closed position of the door, overlies the edge of the access opening 63 and engages the case to prevent the case being lifted off the frame whn the file is locked.

The closure 65 is counter balanced in a manner which produces a closing moment `about its pivotal axis between a closed position and a partially open position of the door and thereafter produces an opening moment so that the operator merely starts the opening or closing movement and the door then moves of its own accord to fully open or to fully closed position. As seen in Figure 3, the closure E6, that is, the door 61 and its supporting sides 68, are syrnetrical, in

jclosed position, on opposite sides of a vertical of this vertical plane. Secured to one of the sides 61 and extending on the opposite side of the shaft I3 is an arm 113 which carries on its free end a The mass of the closure-counterof the shaft I3 so that the closure 66 slightly overbalances the weight 15. The mass of the weight 15 is somewhat to the left (as shown in Figure 3) of the vertical plane passing through the shaft axis, however, positioning the center of gravity of the assembly, in closed position, slightly above and slightly to the left of the shaft axis as indicated at 16. This produces a moment in the assembly to the left about the axis of the shaft 43; ora closing moment. Moving-the closure to -the right, as in openingfto` a position between about one-fourth andone-half open, moves.V the lcenter of gravity 76 to-the opposite side of the `vertical plane and the moment about the shaft `axiswill then be to the right and moveV the door -gage the counterweight l5,A are provided to limit movement of the closure to its full .open and full closed positions. The closure is guided in its movement by the antifriction rollers 80 carried by the opposed molding trims Ill and engaging the sides 5'! of the closure.

lThe file is easily moved from one location to VKanother on four Wheels or rollers 8| attached to the bottcmfcorners of the frame, two or all which mayhave caster connections with the frame. Currentis supplied to the motor 39 by means of aiiexible cable connection (not shown) with a .service outlet and, preferably, the cable has a `plug and socket connection with the le, in addition to the service outlet, to facilitate moving the le.

I claim:

1. In a rotary card filing apparatus including a drum defining a peripheral channel for the reception of file cards and means supporting the ,drum for rotation about a horizontal axis, parti- Ytion members mounted on the drum for circumferential pivotal `movement within the channel Vand dividing the channel into a circumferential series of segmental pockets, said partition mem- ,bers including means engageable with the drum for limiting said pivotal movement, and resilient means engageable with the limiting means adljacent the-limits of pivotal movement of said members for yieldingly retarding said pivotal movement.

2.In a rotary card filing apparatus including a drum defining a peripheral channel for the reception of file cards and means supporting the drum for rotation about a horizontal axis, partition members mounted on the drum for `circumferential pivotal movement within the channel and dividing the channel into a circumferential series of segmental pockets, said partition members including means engageable with the drum for limiting said' pivotal movement, and

Vspr-ing means secured to the drum and engageable with the limiting means adjacent the limits of pivotal movement of said members forv yieldingly retarding said pivotal movement.

3. In a rotary card ling'apparatus including a drum having radial side anges forming therewith a peripheral channel for the reception of file-cards and vmeans supporting the drum for rotation about a horizontal axis, partition membersmounted on the flanges for circumferential tively with the ends thereof to limit said pivotal movement, and resilient means carried by the flanges adjacentV the ends of said slots forengagement with the pin means to absorb the shock of engagement of the pin means with the slot ends.

4.#In a rotary card filing apparatus including Aa drum having radial side flanges forming thereywith a peripheralchannel for the reception of .file cards and meansv supporting the Ydrum for rotation about a horizontal axis, partition members, mounted on the anges for circumferential 4pivotal movement and dividing the channel into a -means carried by eachpartition member and extending through the slot for engagementrespectively with the ends thereof to limit said pivotal movement, and leaf spring members carried by the anges adjacent .the endsof said. slots for engagement with the pin means to absorb the shock of engagement of the. pin meanswith the slot ends.

5. In a rotary card ling apparatus including a drum having radial side flanges forming therewith a peripheral channel for the reception of file cards and means supporting the drum for rotation about a horizontal axis, partition members mounted on the flanges for circumferential pivotal movement and dividing the channel-into a circumferential series of segmental pockets. saidflanges having an arcuate slot therein respectively adjacent each'partition member concentric with the axis of the pivot thereof, pin means carried by each partition member and extending through the slot for Yengagement respectively with the ends thereof to limit said pivotal movement, and U-shaped spring members secured to the flanges and having free ends adjacent the ends of said slots for engagement with the pin means to absorb the shock of engagement of said pin means with slot ends.

6. In a rotary card filing apparatus including a drum having a pair of radial flanges defining therewith a peripheral channel for the reception of file -cards and `means'supporting said drum for rotation about a horizontal axis, a circumferential series of opposed pairs of partition members pivotally mounted respectively on said iia-nges and dividing the `channel into a circumferential series of segmental pockets, means for limiting the pivotal movement of said members, and resilient compression mea-ns interposed respectively between each pair of the partition members and engaging the same adjacent the pivotal axis thereof.

7. In a rotary card filing apparatus including a drum having a pair of radial flanges defining Vtherewith a peripheral channel for the reception of file cards and means supporting said drum for rotation about a horizontal axis, a circumferential series of opposed pairs of axially aligned pivot members carried respectively by said anges adjacent the bottom of said channel, a partition member mounted for pivoting movement on each pivot member, said partition mem'- bers dividing the channel into a circumferential series of segmental pockets, blocking means on each pivot member, and resilient compression means extending between each opposed pair of pivot members and engaging the partition members thereon for resiliently loading the partition members against* said blocking means.

8. In a rotary card ling apparatus including a drum having a pair of radial anges and denning therewith a peripheral channel for the reception of iile cards and means supporting said drum for rotation about a horizontal axis, a circumferential series of opposed pairs of axially aligned pivot pins carried respectively by the flanges, each pin having a radial shoulder. a partition member mounted onveach pin .for pivoting movement, said partition members dividing the channel into a circumferential series of segmental pockets, compression means comprising a rod and a pair of tubes thereon and respectively engaging each pair of pivot pins, compression spring means interposed between said tubes and urging the same into engagement with the partition members andloading the latter against said shoulders, and means for limiting the pivot movement of said partition members. LELAND W. BELEW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Watt Mar. 8, 1927 Haumann Jan. 31, 1939 Scholeld June 25, 1940 Bruen Mar. 18, 1941 Bruen Aug. 2, 1949 Bruen Nov. 1, 1949 Bruen June 6, 1950 Adams Feb. 13, 19'51 

